THE Irfaan-Ali led government is serious about constitutional reform and giving every Guyanese citizen the opportunity to participate in this dynamic, fundamentally enriching process.
With all the elements coming together and plans moving full steam ahead, it is being emphasised that politicians ought to take a step back and allow the citizens to make their input.

In what can be acknowledged as a timely reminder and an important piece of advice, Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has emphasised that no political party has the right to hijack the process and determine what changes should be made to Guyana’s Constitution.
He has highlighted the importance of a wide cross-section of representation on the Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC) and the citizens’ participation, which are both fundamental aspects of democracy and good governance.
From the inception, the PPP/C government has made its approach to constitutional reform crystal clear; it must involve the people and it must be driven by the people.
But as expected, government critics do not approve. They have vented their disapprovals in the public domain and have failed to acknowledge or support, even a little, the government’s keeping of its word and the efforts that have been made since taking office, to move the process forward.

Recently, in response to the unwarranted criticism, some of which target the CRC whose establishment is a part of the party’s manifesto, Dr. Jagdeo said: “No political party must have the arrogance to think they can determine what should be in the Constitution.
“That is why we said in our manifesto, we will use the same model that we used in the past, which is five from the opposition, five from the government, and ten from civil society.”
By adopting a model that includes representatives from both political parties and civil society, the CRC ensures that the reform process reflects diverse perspectives and meets the needs of Guyana’s populace.
This model was laid out in the party’s 2020-2025 Manifesto, keeping in mind that issues concerning constitutional reform, particularly in relation to a national, inclusive governance model, management of elections, fiduciary accountability, enhancing rights of Guyanese and ensuring constitutional language is simple, had already been raised and discussed in the public domain.
PPP/C’s approach, as repeatedly articulated by Dr. Jagdeo, emphasises inclusivity and transparency.

Encouraging people to participate in this constitutional reform process will allow for the identification and fixing of vexation and prejudicial issues before major changes are made at the legislative level. This will no doubt have to be fuelled by a robust public awareness campaign.

Decisions made with public participation are not only seen as more legitimate, but they are less subject to challenge, and are seen as being better decisions for the good of all stakeholders.
Following the appointment of a secretary, the commission’s work will begin. And, when this happens, every citizen should seize the opportunity to contribute to the process. It is not only about letting their voices be heard and having their opinions documented, but it’s also about ensuring that the foundation is laid for us to live prosperous, peaceful lives in a nation that we are proud citizens of.